Luis Enrique urges Lionel Messi to stay with Barcelona

FC Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has urged Lionel Messi to spend the remainder of his footballing career at the club.

Messi was the hero for Barca in El Clasico, scoring a goal and then a last-gasp winner in a 3-2 triumph that helped Barca overtake Real Madrid on the top of the La Liga table.

The Argentinian celebrated his second by taking his shirt off and holding it aloft, which some interpreted as a sign he is poised to sign a contract extension with Barca.

However, when pressed on that topic in his media conference ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Osasuna, Luis Enrique said that only Messi can explain the celebration while also urging the La Liga top scorer to keep playing for the Catalan team.

“My particular opinion is that I would like him to end his career at Barca,” Enrique said. “(But) that is something for Leo to decide.”

“The person who can best explain the celebration of the goal in the Clasico is Leo.”

Still, the 46-year-old was not disappointed that he will no longer work with Messi, and instead conveyed his gratitude for the time he has been able to spend with the player who many regards as one of the all-time greats.